Who is Yasiel Puig, the Los Angeles Dodgers' rookie outfielder?

Who is Yasiel Puig?

How Puig Got Here

Puig was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba on Dec. 7, 1990. The story of how he developed as a baseball player and defected to America is incomplete. Here's some of what we do know: he began playing at age 9, was spotted at 17 by Dodgers scout Mike Brito at an under-18 tournament in Canada, and played baseball at the highest level in his native country before defecting to Cancun at age 20. Puig impressed scouts at a group workout in Mexico City last June and the Dodgers offered the most impressive contract, partly out of the need to show their renewed commitment to international talent. After batting .328 in 63 minor-league games, Puig was promoted to the Dodgers.

How to pronounce his name

Scouting Report

Potentially, Puig possesses all five baseball tools: The ability to hit for average, hit for power, run, throw, and field his position well. Of these, the only one he hasn't clearly demonstrated against major-league competition is the ability to field his position well, and that could be because he hasn't had enough time. Puig led all players with at least 50 at-bats in spring training with a .517 batting average. His .828 Cactus League slugging percentage was no fluke either; Puig belted two home runs in his second major-league game. The arm was strong enough to produce an outfield assist from the warning track Monday, an off-balance throw from right field that reached first baseman Adrian Gonzalez on the fly for a game-ending double play. The Dodgers clocked Puig as the fastest player in their major-league camp, though at 22 he must still learn how to use his speed. He's still rough around the edges in places, especially on the basepaths, which only makes him more compelling to watch.

2013 Minor League Stats Before Being Called Up

Watch: Puig's first two home runs

Watch: "The Throw"

Puig's Future in Los Angeles

Puig might not be able to determine his own future in the Dodgers' outfield. That's because left fielder Carl Crawford (2017), center fielder Matt Kemp ('19) and right fielder Andre Ethier ('17, with an option for '18) are under long-term contracts. Of these, Ethier's five-year, $85 million contract looks the least tradable through the first two-plus months of 2013 - a small sample size. Yet the early returns on Puig in right field are so positive that the Dodgers might have no choice but to bench or trade Ethier, who doesn't hold a no-trade clause. That decision is currently delayed by hamstring injuries to Kemp and Crawford.

Any discussion of Puig's future requires an examination of the trade market for Ethier, a career .290 hitter who was batting .230 as of Wednesday. At 31, his value has never been lower. Since Ethier has been equally putrid facing lefties (.231/.271/.354) and righties (.230/.345/.349), platooning Puig and Ethier based on matchups seems less likely than it did at the beginning of the season.

Regardless, the Dodgers have Puig under contract through 2017. Some things are under Puig's control, like the ability to pull back in the outfield to avoid injuring himself (a la Bryce Harper) and his teammates. Puig must also obey the posted speed limits off the field, which was enough of a problem in Chattanooga to land him in jail. He seems to have quickly absorbed the major-league style of play, which is markedly different from Cuba's. Can Puig break out of his first slump? He did in Double-A, but the Dodgers might decide Puig needs more seasoning if he can't do it in the majors.